Principal's Message 

Loving God,

We thank You for the many blessings You have given our school community.

We are grateful for the dedication and care of those who are moving on to new opportunities,

for the joy of those preparing for new life,

and for the welcome of those joining us.

Guide each of them with Your wisdom and love.

May our community continue to grow in faith, hope, and kindness,

as we walk together in Your light.

Amen.

Dear Families,

As we begin the new term, I would like to share some further staffing news with you.

At the end of this year, we will farewell Mrs Daniella Polites, who will be moving to St Mary’s School in Hastings. We are deeply grateful for her many years of dedication and the care she has shown to so many of our students. Daniella leaves behind a wonderful legacy of kindness, professionalism, and commitment to our community. We wish her every success as she takes this next step in her teaching journey.

Earlier this year, I shared the wonderful news that Mrs Natalie Arhontis (5/6AP) is expecting a baby. Natalie has now finished at the end of this week, as she prepares for her parental leave. We thank her for the joy, energy, and care she has brought to her students, and we wish her all the very best for the exciting months ahead. We are delighted to welcome Mrs Rushani Rupasinghe, who has been appointed to teach 5/6AP for the remainder of the year.

We also shared earlier this year that Mrs Holly Capomolla, our Learning Diversity Leader and Literacy Leader, is expecting a baby. Mrs Capomolla will finish at the end of the year as she begins her parental leave. We hope everything continues to go well for Mrs Capomolla as she prepares for her first baby. We are pleased to share that Mrs Rushani Rupasinghe will take on the Learning Diversity Leader role beginning in January 2026. Welcome, Mrs Rupasinghe, to St Andrew’s School.

Miss Lucy Levett has been leading Learning and Teaching, as well as Numeracy, this year. Next year, Miss Levett will continue in her Numeracy role while returning to the classroom in a part-time capacity. Thank you so much, Miss Levett, for your leadership this year. We are pleased to announce that Mrs Amy Taylor has been appointed as our new Learning and Teaching and Literacy Leader from 2026. Mrs Taylor joins us from Haileybury College, where she has held similar leadership roles.

We are very pleased to welcome back Mrs Margaret (Maggie) Sproul, who returns to St Andrew’s in a part-time capacity after 12 months of leave. It’s wonderful to have Mrs Sproul back as part of our community.

At the end of this year, Ms Tahira Tannen will be taking a 12-month leave of absence. We hope she enjoys this time, and we look forward to welcoming Ms Tannen back in 2027.

Mr Martin Darcy, who joined us mid-year to teach 5/6V, will be finishing his contract at the end of the year. Martin plans to travel and explore new short-term teaching opportunities both in Australia and overseas. We thank him for his contribution and wish him well in his adventures ahead.

Looking to next year, we are delighted to welcome two new teachers to our school community. Ms Martina Duong joins us from Silverton Primary School, bringing a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for supporting student growth. Ms Han Nguyen joins us as a graduate teacher from Australian Catholic University (ACU). We warmly welcome both Ms Duong and Ms Nguyen to St Andrew’s and look forward to the fresh perspectives and energy they will bring.

At the end of this year, we will farewell Emma Strom, our Deputy Principal and Religious Education Leader, who has accepted a position at St Mary’s School, Hastings. Emma has made a significant contribution to our school through her leadership, dedication, and genuine care for students, staff, and families. We are deeply grateful for all she has given to our community and wish her every success as she takes on this new opportunity. I personally would like to thank Emma for her support this year. She has been incredible in helping support me in so many ways.

Each of these staff members—those departing, arriving, and returning—has made, or will make, a meaningful contribution to the life of our school. We hold them all in our prayers and gratitude as they begin new chapters in their journeys.

As you know, I began as Principal at St Andrew’s at the start of this year. Many of the school’s leadership positions were previously appointed on a short-term basis, and we are now in the process of reviewing and advertising some roles, including the Deputy Principal position. These positions are being advertised both internally and externally, and I will continue to update you on any further staffing and leadership announcements through future newsletters.

Thank you for your continued support as we move forward together as a community of faith and learning.

Regards

Brian Martin

Principal